PC, PDP slam NC govt over upholding of Aug 5 changes

SRINAGAR: The Peoples Conference (PC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday lashed out at the National Conference-led administration in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing it of legitimizing the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019, which revoked the region’s special status.

PC Chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone, along with PDP legislator Waheed Para, strongly opposed the proposed removal of references to the erstwhile J&K Constitution in the Assembly’s business rules.

Expressing his outrage on X, Lone wrote, “The approval of the draft proposal by the Assembly secretariat regarding the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business will be the clearest and most indefensible validation of the August 5, 2019, changes.”

He warned that this move would permanently close any legal avenues to challenge the revocation of Article 370. “We had hoped for an unambiguous resolution from the new Assembly rejecting the August 5 changes, setting a precedent for future legal battles. Instead, we are faced with a shocking reality,” Lone remarked.

Accusing the Assembly of becoming a “tool to erase any chance of reversing the changes,” he stated, “This institution, which was supposed to be the people’s voice, is now a mere rubber stamp for those who orchestrated August 5, 2019.”

Lone alleged that the NC-led government deliberately formed a committee with six NC members and two BJP representatives, excluding opposition parties from Kashmir. “This committee has officially sanctioned all changes made on August 5, 2019. By doing so, they have removed references to the J&K Constitution and laws concerning permanent residents from the rules. This is a ruthless betrayal of the people of Kashmir,” he said.

He further accused the National Conference of covertly collaborating with the BJP to normalize the 2019 changes. “First, NC fuels the ‘everyone is BJP’ narrative. Then, the BJP plays along to reinforce this perception. The stage is set, elections are announced, and a retired bureaucrat—closely aligned with the NC for the past three years—ensures complete administrative compliance in NC’s favour,” Lone alleged.

Referring to the National Conference’s past political manoeuvres, he added, “This 42-seat windfall is yet another gift to the NC for its endorsements. The 1975 government was handed over with no MLAs to validate the erosions from 1950 to 1975. In 1996, an election was staged to justify state-sponsored violence. Now, in 2024, the latest political reward is for endorsing the August 5 changes. Being an MLA in this Assembly is a curse—it will forever be remembered for rubber-stamping August 5, 2019.”

Meanwhile, PDP MLA Waheed Para shared a screenshot of a news report stating that the proposed amendments aimed to align Assembly rules with the post-2019 constitutional framework.

Reacting to this, Para posted on X: “The revised J&K Assembly business rules signal a departure from Article 370, cementing the August 5, 2019, constitutional changes. This is an outright acceptance of the new status quo.”